Business Park chief says he'll stay involved in retirement

DARTMOUTH — Under the 15-year leadership of Tom Davis, the New Bedford Business Park has grown from 18 companies to 45 companies today and from 1,500 to 4,500 employees.

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By SIMÓN RIOS

southcoasttoday.com

By SIMÓN RIOS

Posted Mar. 6, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By SIMÓN RIOS
Posted Mar. 6, 2014 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

DARTMOUTH — Under the 15-year leadership of Tom Davis, the New Bedford Business Park has grown from 18 companies to 45 companies today and from 1,500 to 4,500 employees.

And on the verge of Davis' retirement two more firms are about to move in.

"I was really impressed with Tom Davis," said Mario Dinis, owner of MDT Tours, a charter bus company now based in Seekonk that recently purchased 4.7 acres in the park and plans to break ground later this month.

"He's been certainly instrumental in me moving here "¦ He's very accommodating and eager to bring business to the area."

Davis' retirement was announced Wednesday evening at the park during the annual meeting of the Greater New Bedford Industrial Foundation, the body that oversees the park.

"When you talk to Tom for any length of time you discover that the business park is one of his passions," said Liz Isherwood, president of the foundation.

"As our own superman, Tom has (led) turnaround efforts that today find the park at the forefront."

In addition to MDT Tours, which will bring 34 jobs, a second company, NWD Trucking, also plans to open in the 1,000-acre park. Already based in New Bedford, NWD employs 52 and operates 30 trucks and plans to move into old Polaroid building.

The Standard-Times 2001 SouthCoast Man of the Year, Davis is originally from Montpelier, Vt. In 1998 he came to New Bedford after a 23-year career with Exxon, where he managed planning and marketing for the company's Asian holding company.

Davis said the park has grown even since the recession, with 11 new companies moving in and 10 more expanding — together generating 800 new jobs for the area. But things were far different when he started.

"When I came to this job I only knew one thing," Davis said at Wednesday's meeting. "The park had not seen one sale in 10 years."

It was in sorry shape, the tenants were unhappy, and it was up to Davis to turn it around. After visiting five successful parks, he envisioned a turnaround plan that would set the park on a path to prosperity.

He said half the growth — which includes a tripling in the number of jobs based in the park — came from attracting new companies, while half came from the expansion of existing firms.

Although he didn't announce a retirement date, Davis said he has no plans to leave town once he gives up his post.

"In the future I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing, but I'm going to be very involved in trying to further improve both New Bedford and Dartmouth from an economic development and educational standpoint," he said.

After Davis' talk he received a standing ovation. Mayor Jon Mitchell bid Davis farewell, discussing his advocacy for education.

"Of all your efforts, Tom, that may be the one that is the most lasting."